~ Babylon Five: The Xena Ryan - Kelly Leick Chronicles ~
                              Odds and Ends
                              by Daniel Stevens
                              jds1958xg@aol.com

DISCLAIMER:  This story is based upon the Book Series 'The Psi Corps 
Trilogy', by J. Gregory Keyes, which is itself based upon the TV Series 
'Babylon 5', by J. Michael Straczynski. which is property of Babylonian 
Productions and Time-Warner.  Those characters who are recognizable from 
the TV Series 'Xena: Warrior Princess' are property of Renaissance Pictures.  
No copyright infringement is intended.

SYNOPSIS:  This story consists of a series of selected excerpts from the 
Personal Log of Jenny Winters, currently assigned as First Officer of 
*White Star 64*, with material added to each Log Entry from the time the 
Entry was recorded.  Adapted to story format.

********** 

PROLOGUE - September 2289 

Aboard *White Star 64*, which is currently sitting on a landing pad on 
Earth, outside Geneva, Switzerland, the capital of the Earth Alliance.  
First Officer Jenny Winters is in the quarters she shares with her Captain, 
at their terminal.  She is going over some old files of hers.

Suddenly, she senses the approach of a very familiar, and far more powerful, 
mind.  High end P12, to be exact. She looks up, to see Captain Kelly Leick
walk in.  The Captain is wearing the warm smile she usually wears around 
her best friend.  She then sits down next to Jenny, and has a look at what's 
on the terminal.

'Those are some of your old log entries, aren't they?' 

"Yes, they are."  A moment later, "Kelly, would you believe it's been a 
hundred years since we first met?"

After a moment, 'You know, you're right, Jen!  It has been that long!  Of 
course, we did spend seventy of those years in cryo.'

"Maybe that's why I sometimes feel like Sleeping Beauty or Rip van Winkle." 


'You and me both!' 

"Actually, though, Kelly, I've been looking at some of the entries from after 
our reawakening.  Like this one, from almost nine years ago." 

********** 

CHAPTER ONE 

"Personal Log of Jenny Winters, First Officer of *White Star 64*  Standard 
Earth Date 01 February 2281.  In Valen's Name.

So much has happened this past week, and so much of it sad.  President 
Sheridan dying.  Babylon 5 being decommissioned and destroyed.  It's like 
the end of an era - an era that me and Kelly only caught the tail end of.  
Of course, Kelly says that the end of one era is also the beginning of 
another that may be better than the last.  Leave it to her to know just the 
right thing to cheer me up.  Of course, she is a high end P12.

We are enroute to Earth for a courtesy call.  I've heard that one of 
the newest *Excalibur* Class Destroyers will be commissioned while 
we're there.  I'd like to see that, as I've heard so much about those 
ships.  The specs I've seen on them make the old *Asura* look like a 
broken down planet-hopper.  Maybe Kelly and I will get lucky.  I hope 
so." 

Some days later, at the Commissioning Ceremony for the EAS *Hippolyta*.  
Captain Leick and her First Officer are speaking with the Commanding 
Officer of the new ship, Captain Ephie McCormack, at a reception held 
after the actual ceremony on the space station/shipyard where the 
*Hippolyta* was built and fitted out.  All three women are in the Full 
Dress Uniforms of their respective services. 

"Captain McCormack, I've heard it said that you would have made Captain 
years ago, except that you held out for this ship, or one like it." 

"That sounds like something Captain Ryan or Counselor Muir would have 
told you.  Still, Captain Leick, I must plead guilty as charged."

"I don't know how Earthforce does things these days, but there was a 
time when you would have been putting your career advancement on the 
line doing that."

"Well, things haven't changed all that much these past seventy-five years.  
Not in that respect, at least.  Several other people warned me of that 
possibility.  Still, the payoff's worth the risk."

"I'll say!  She's a beauty!  And bigger than a space station would have 
been in my time!"

"At two kilometers in length, she's also one of the baddest ships in the 
Interstellar Alliance.  The gravitetic propulsion has been perfected now, 
and yields considerably more power than the old *Excalibur*, and the 
plasteel crystalline outer hull has been improved to where it refracts 
away *well* over eighty percent of a direct hit from any beam weapon.  
How much those values are, I'm not at liberty to discuss."

"I didn't think you would be - even if military secrets are the most 
fleeting of all."

"Kelly, if I may?"

"Sure, Jen."

"Captain McCormack, I remember hearing or reading something about a 
problem with the main gun on the old *Excalibur*."

"Quite true, Ms. Winters.  Firing the main gun drains so much power that 
the *Excalibur* is a sitting duck for a full minute after doing so.  
Again, the exact values are highly classified information, but the 
*Hippolyta* has that problem down to a matter of a very few seconds."

"Impressive!  I know that the Minbari have built some of their own, as has 
the Interstellar Alliance itself."

"I would have been surprised if they hadn't, Captain Leick.  After all, 
these ships do employ not only Minbari technology, but Vorlon tech, as well."

"Just out of curiosity, did you ever see a Vorlon?" 

"No, I never had the opportunity.  As you know, the whole lot of them left 
for parts unknown twenty years ago."

"I see." 

Just then, another woman in Earthforce Full Dress walks up.  She is of 
medium height, with light brown hair, gray eyes, and a very youthful 
appearance.

"By the way, this is Ensign Amy Reece.  She just reported aboard two days 
ago.  Ensign Reece, this is Captain Kelly Leick, and Commander Jenny 
Winters, of *White Star 64*."

"Pleased to meet you, Ensign." 

"Likewise, Captain, Commander." 

"Ensign Reece, these two have a particularly interesting history to them.  
I should know, since I was there for part of it."

"Oh, really?  This I've got to hear."

"Right this way, then, so that Captain McCormack can get back to the other 
dignitaries."

Out on the space station's observation deck, they tell their rather 
incredible story, starting with their meeting back in 2189.

"And you can imagine our shock when we learned that everything we had known 
was either gone, or seventy years out of date!"

"Indeed I can!  The Psi Corps you remember abolished, Earth's horizons 
expanded beyond all belief."

"I know.  The first item is why we joined the Anla-shok.  Me and Jenny 
would have been leftovers from a past that's best left dead and buried if 
we had gone into EABI Metasensory or BTI Enforcement.  Not that I quarrel 
with the demise of the old Psi Corps.  Far from it.  The things that went 
on during it's last twenty years..."  Kelly shakes her head, in disgust, 
then continues.  "I'm sorry to have to admit that the seeds for what Psi 
Corps had become by the middle of the century were already there when the 
*Asura* launched.  I'm just glad that most of the criminals responsible 
for the worst atrocities were caught and punished.  Just as I owe it to 
Jenny that I retained my integrity in the old MetaPol."

"Kelly, give yourself some credit!  If you had been the power hungry 
monster that some Psi Cops were by the '50's, my ability to influence you 
would have been zilch.  I was able to become your best friend because you 
let it happen, or rather, insisted that it happen.  So, don't even *think* 
of comparing yourself with someone like Mr. Bester in *my* presence!"

"Okay!  Okay!  I get your point, Jen!", with an amusedly defensive tone of 
voice.

The various conversations continue for some time, before Captain Leick and 
Commander Winters have to return to their ship.

********** 

Some weeks later, the *Hippolyta* is on work-ups out by Barnard's Star, 
when Captain Ephie McCormack gets an urgent message directing her to get 
underway for the Typhon Sector, to deal with an outbreak of Raider 
activity.  Suffice it to say that the Raiders are no match for the 
*Hippolyta*, which makes short work of them.  The surviving Raiders are 
delivered up for trial.  Upon *Hippolyta's* return, she is paired with the 
aging *Hercules*, still commanded by Captain Mike Ellis, to maintain an 
Earthforce presence in the Beta Durrani System.

Meanwhile, *White Star 64* moves on to it's next assignment, escorting a 
supply convoy to the Enfili Homeworld.  *White Star 87* is also assigned 
to that mission, and the presence of both Kelly Leick *and* Xena Ryan 
appears to be enough to warn off any possible interference from the Drazi.  
This is despite the fact that the Drazi are still upset that the Enfili had 
slipped through their fingers nineteen Earth Years before - with the help 
of the Interstellar Alliance, the Anla-shok, and the White Star Fleet.  
Nonetheless, both Captains keep their ships at battle stations all the way 
through the potential danger zone.  After all, one can never be completely 
sure about the Drazi.

INTERMEZZO - September 2289 

'You know, Jen, I do remember that quite well.  But the situation that 
really stands out for me is the Altina Stansfield affair of three years 
ago.'

"Tell me about it!  Kelly, I think that's one of the few times I've ever 
really seen you lose your composure, aside from that business with the 
late, unlamented A. R. Farber."

'Did you really have to bring him up?  I was in such a good mood.' 

"Well, do you really think your good mood will be restored if I call up 
the Stansfield entries?"

'There's only one way to find out.  And while you're at it, why don't you 
call up our little run-in with IPX?  That should be good for some laughs.'

"You've got it!" 

With that, Jenny winters proceeds to do so.  She continues to talk with 
Kelly as the computer looks for the requested files.

"I was also going to mention that time in 2204, when I was kidnapped by 
none other than the Black Fox, Stephen Walters."

'I thought I might well lose you that time.  Not that I was worried about 
you joining them again.  What worried me was the possibility that I'd find 
you dead or mindfragged.'

"I know.  That thought crossed my mind, too.  That they might do something 
like that once they realized that I would never rejoin them.  That I had 
made you a promise, and that I really cared about keeping that promise, 
because I cared about you."

'I know.  I also remember that, when we did find you alive and well, you 
insisted that I deep scan you right there, on the spot.'

"I had my reasons." 

'I know.  I could feel your increasing feelings that all would be well, as 
I erased the Resistance's mental fingerprints from my mind, while 
remembering every one of them for future reference.'

"I'm just sorry Walters got away that time." 

'Well, that's all in the past.  Besides, if you remember, their side 
ended up winning anyway, some twenty-five years ago.'

"I know."  A moment later, "And here's the requested files, just coming up." 

************ 

CHAPTER TWO 

"Personal Log of Jenny Winters, First Officer of *White Star 64*.  
Standard Earth Date 06 June 2286.  In Valen's Name.

Me and Kelly have just read a rather interesting, and somewhat scary, 
report.  It would appear that the refugees from the Earth-Minbari War have 
been found, or rather, their children and grandchildren.  At least, there 
have been reports of raids against Minbari civilian traffic by what are 
apparently hopelessly outdated Earthforce design patrol cruisers.  The 
Rangers sent *White Star 87* to deal with the situation, and Earthforce has 
added the *Hippolyta* to the task force.  As for us, we are currently on a 
goodwill mission to Centauri Prime, which has been deemed important enough 
to not include us on the other mission.  I just hope that Captains Ryan and 
McCormack can pull this one out, as this can be dynamite for the Alliance."

After closing out the log entry, and shutting down the terminal, Jenny goes 
to the ship's galley.  there, she finds Kelly sitting at a table, with her 
favorite meal right in front of her.  She's acting more like a kid with a 
plate of veggies, however.

'This is not good!' 

'Tell me about it!  Or more likely, you're the one who wants me to tell 
you about it?', as Kelly gestures towards an empty chair at the table.  
Jenny sits down.

'Jen, it's just that as important as I realize this goodwill mission is, 
now that Emperor Cotto has brought the Centauri back into the ranks of 
civilized worlds, I can't help feeling like we should be on the mission 
with Captain Ryan.  Especially since I can't shake a bad feeling I have 
that more is involved here than refugees from a war that's been over for 
forty years turning raider.  If my gut feeling is right, she may be getting 
in over her head.'

"What do you mean, Kelly?" 

'I... wish I knew for sure.  The Hell of it is, I sense grave danger in 
that other situation, but can't put a finger on it, and our orders won't 
allow us to intervene, or even to find out if I'm right or wrong before the 
Question becomes academic.'

Jenny smiles, in an obvious attempt to reassure her best friend. Then, 
"Kelly, I have the great privilege of knowing four people in whom I have 
the utmost confidence in their ability to take care of themselves.  I'm 
sitting across the table from one of them, taking her hand in mine."  A 
moment later, 'The other three are on that mission.'

'Thanks, Jen.  Leave it to you to know exactly what to say to cheer me up.'

'Hey, I've had almost a hundred years' practice, counting the time spent 
in cryo.'

Jenny now lets go of Kelly's hand, as, "I think I'm going to get something 
to eat.  Care for some company?"

'As if you had to ask.', barely suppressing a chuckle.

************

Even as Jenny Winters is joining her Commanding Officer and best friend for 
lunch, battle is being joined many light-years away.  Captain McCormack had 
personally carried out a recon mission into enemy space, using her personal 
starfury.  She had brought back a wealth of vital information concerning 
the enemy's strength and dispositions.  Two days later, as the Captains 
deliver their surrender demand to the renegade fleet, Gabrielle Muir scans 
the Captain of the enemy flagship.

"Xena, they won't surrender.  There's something or someone else that they're 
more afraid of than they are of us.  Something absolutely horrible."

"Scan deeper, and find out what has the enemy so buffaloed that they'd 
rather die at our hands than see reason."

First Officer Muir does so, and gets a clear image in her mind - an image 
that fills her with deep fear and loathing.

'Xena, it's *Alti*!  She's in control of those poor devils!' 

'That figures!  Solann, contact *Hippolyta*, and tell them to get their 
little surprise ready to go planetside."

"Aye, Captain." 

"Taylor, target the enemy's jump engines and weapons only.  I want those 
ships disabled, not destroyed.  Our real enemy is most likely on the planet 
surface, under heavy guard."

"Aye, Captain." 

As *White Star 87* and *Hippolyta* engage the enemy, they find it rather 
easy to slice through twenty times their own number of ships that belong 
in a museum, not in a battle line.  Of course, having two of the finest 
fighting Captains since John Sheridan became President has as much to do 
with that as having two ships that are several decades more advanced than 
anything the enemy can throw at them.  In fact, it looks like a kinder, 
gentler version of the Earth-Minbari war, as the two ships brush aside 
their opposition, taking only minimal damage themselves.  Soon, the two 
ships assume orbit around the planet that is the enemy's home base, and a 
shuttle launches from *Hippolyta*, bound for the surface, and escorted by 
the ship's full complement of starfuries.  Captain Ryan smiles triumphantly 
at the prospect of the now inevitable total victory.  It's only a matter of 
time now.

************ 

CHAPTER THREE 

"Personal Log of Jenny Winters, First Officer of *White Star 64*  Standard 
Earth Date 15 July 2286.  In Valen's Name.

Captains Ryan and McCormack have returned from that refugee turned raider 
mission.  It turns out that Kelly's gut feeling was right - there *was* 
more to the situation than we had known.

It turns out that a former Psi Cop, and wanted war criminal, named Altina 
Stansfield had found those people back twenty years ago, after fleeing 
justice in the aftermath of the Telepath Crisis.  This Stansfield had used 
her talent, and the training that Psi Corps had given her, to take them 
over, imposing a tyranny as brutal as any in the history of a hundred 
worlds, and following Mr. Bester's blueprint for Earth almost exactly.  She 
had then directed the buildup of a military machine she had hoped would be 
capable of reconquering Earth, and gave her subjects their dream shot at 
the Minbari - as nothing more than a test of her new toys.

Fortunately, Captain McCormack, or else EABI Metasensory, ad suspected 
something like that.  Among the crew of the *Hippolyta* had been a 
Metasensory hunt squad, led by two psifeds, who took the blip down.  
Meanwhile, the two Captains had rounded up the survivors from the enemy 
fleet. Stansfield, or what's left of her, has been handed over to the 
Minbari, doped up on sleepers as a very wise precaution.  EarthGov has 
waived jurisdiction, in return for Minbar adding the crimes against 
sentience charges to the indictment.  The surviving refugees are to be 
reintegrated back into the Earth Alliance."

************ 

The three Captains are conferring in the ready room aboard the *Hippolyta*, 
currently in orbit around Minbar.  With them are the two psifeds, Kim Lao-Ma 
and Vicky Sayanova.  Also present is Shai Alyt Takiri, the commanding 
officer of the war cruiser *Branmer*, to receive the official report on the 
mission on behalf of the Gray Council, and to take charge of the prisoner.  
Kim is speaking.

"She may have been the absolute ruler of that system, but to me and 
Sayanova, Altina Stansfield was just another criminal to bring in.  However, 
I couldn't help noticing one thing, Captain Ryan.  The look of recognition 
and almost murderous hatred on your face - almost as if you'd had trouble 
with her before.  She seemed to recognize you, as well, as an old enemy.  
Have you two fought before?"

"The answer to your question is yes, but you wouldn't believe me if I told 
you where, when, or how often.  You're welcome to scan me for it, if you'd 
like."

Sayanova's reply to Xena Ryan's offer to submit to a scan is, "I... don't 
believe that will be necessary, Captain Ryan.  We scanned her after we got 
the sleepers into her, and saw what you wouldn't expect us to believe.  The 
fact that both you and she do believe it is enough for us to wonder if there 
may be some truth to such an utterly ludicrous story, after all."

"Well, whatever the case may be, your war criminal is now in our custody, 
where she'll harm nobody else, and will receive a fair trial for her crimes 
against both our worlds.  Please convey to the refugees our gratitude for 
their testimony against her.  That testimony, plus the testimony from the 
survivors of the attacks by her fleet, and the records of her crimes against 
sentience over twenty Earth Years ago, should be enough to... how does that 
Earth saying go?  Put her un..?"

"Is 'put her *under* the jail' the saying your thinking of, Shai Alyt?"

"I do believe that is the saying.  Thank you, Captain Leick."

"You're welcome." Then, to Captain Ryan, "I just wish I could have been 
there to help out.  I had a gut feeling at the time that something like 
that was going on, though I couldn't put my finger on it at the time."

"Thanks for the sentiment, Captain Leick.  It means a lot to me."

"You're welcome, Captain Ryan."

************

Some hours later, back aboard *White Star 64*, Kelly is looking over some 
files, one of which is on the Altina Stansfield case, another from a certain 
vidshow of nearly three centuries before.  When she compares two images, one 
from each file, her stomach goes real queasy real fast.

'Oh, *HELL*!!!  Our war criminal looks just like that evil shamaness Alti!'  
A moment later, "Jenny Winters, report to my ready room stat!"

When Jenny gets there, 'Jen, take a look at *this*!'

After a minute, "Kelly, they're... *identical*!"

'Tell me about it!'

"Well, thank Valen she's out of circulation now - *permanently*!"

'No, not permanently.  Just for this incarnation.'

"What do you mean by that remark?  That sounds like something Captain Ryan 
might say."

'Captain Ryan and I have occasionally discussed her belief in reincarnation.  
When, in relation to that, the subject of one Callisto has come up, I could 
always sense her feeling that, however reprehensible Callisto's actions 
were, they had ample provocation to explain them.  A sense, however slight, 
of understanding and sympathy for the woman whom she regards as having been 
a bitter enemy of hers in that earlier life, and whom she thinks I may be 
reincarnated from.  When the discussion turned to *this* one, though, I got 
no such sense from her.'

"What did you get?" 

'A sense of deep dread and loathing.  A sense that she considers this 'Alti', 
and any incarnation thereof, to be a force of absolute evil.  An evil that 
will never truly die, at least not in *this* world and age.  An evil that 
held her earlier self under it's thrall for years, and cursed her first 
child to never experience love from either parent, no matter who had to die 
to make it so.'

Jenny's jaw drops open, clearly expressing how appalled she is at that last 
sending.

'When she got free of the evil influence, she then fought it to the death, 
in that life, and has apparently had to fight it again - usually, to the 
death - roughly every century or so.  After what Captain Ryan told me of the 
original Alti, just looking at those two images gives me the creeps.  If it 
were up to me, I'd have the Gray Council order that Ms.  Stansfield be 
spaced *immediately*!'

"Kelly, I can't believe you said that!"

'I *wouldn't* have said that about anyone else, but just looking at her, 
she even looks like a she demon in human form.  There was a time when due 
process for one such as that would have been a stake through the heart, then 
burn the corpse without delay.  There are only two other beings that Captain 
Ryan expressed a similar loathing for."

"Who?" 

'One was named Dahak, and had a rap sheet that looks like the Devil himself.  
The other one was a she demon in human form misnamed 'Hope', that looked 
exactly like it's mother, but took after it's father in behavior.  The thing 
was born after Dahak raped the mother, who Captain Ryan says was an earlier 
incarnation of Commander Muir.  It did it's first cold blooded killing as a 
baby, and after aging ten years in a matter of months, murdered the son of 
Captain Ryan's earlier self.  It was then killed twice, but came back both 
times.  They killed it a third time, but beyond that, they still don't know 
if 'Hope' is still out there somewhere, waiting to strike again.  Valen 
knows I pray that is not the case.  Picture a being that is at *least* a P13, 
also a fully functional TK, and the very picture of evil incarnate.'

"Kelly, I'd rather not."

'I don't blame you.  Hopefully, though, we'll never see that one, and 
hopefully the Gray Council will have the good sense to keep Ms. Stansfield 
so doped up on sleepers she won't know which way is up.  I sincerely believe 
that Captain Ryan and Commander Muir would agree with me wholeheartedly on 
both sentiments.  But enough of evil monsters.  Care to head down to the 
surface?'

"You've got it!" 

After Kelly Leick shuts down the terminal, both women go to the Bridge, to 
take the ship down to the surface of Minbar.

CHAPTER FOUR 

"Personal Log of Jenny Winters, First Officer of *White Star 64*.  Standard 
Earth Date 01 August 2286.  In Valen's Name.

We have just left Minbar after some two weeks of well deserved R&R, and are 
enroute to check out some possible trouble at an Interplanetary Expeditions 
dig on a recently discovered planet out on the deep range.  That's all me or 
Kelly know about this mission, except that we'll be dealing with two 
gentlemen named Sal Trebor and Otto Stiles, who are apparently in charge 
of the dig.  After what Captain Ryan told Kelly about her previous dealings 
with IPX in general, and those two in particular, I'm not sure we're looking 
forward to this one."

************ 

Mid afternoon, local time, on a planet that looks almost as bleak as Mars.  
When *White Star 64* lands at the rather primitive landing strip serving the 
dig, a reception committee is already waiting for them with two All Terrain 
Vehicles.  As Kelly and Jenny disembark, a short, stout man with balding 
gray hair, neatly trimmed beard, and boundless enthusiasm hops out of one of 
the vehicles, and running up to them, proceeds to grab Kelly's hand, and 
pump it rather vigorously.  Another man, taller with dark hair and mustache, 
and obviously younger, walks up more slowly.  Both are wearing khaki 
jumpsuits.  Kelly and Jenny are in standard issue Ranger everyday uniforms.

"Glad you got here so quickly, O Proud Rangeress-"

"Do you mind?!", pulling her hand away.

"OOPS!  Sorry!  It's just that I'm so glad to see you,.."

"Captain Kelly Leick, and this is my First Officer, Commander Jenny Winters."

"Sal Trebor, at your service, and this is my Assistant Project Director, 
Otto Stiles."

"Also tunnel and cave explorer extraordinaire.", brushing the underside of 
his mustache with one finger, before taking Jenny's hand and kissing it.

'Can you believe these two?!' 

Tell me about it!' 

Then, "I assume you'll want to get right down to business, Captain?" 

"That was the general idea, I do believe, Mr. Trebor." 

"Right this way, then.", as the two men start back towards the ATV's.  The 
two women follow.

************

Some minutes later, the four are entering a prefab building that is 
apparently the dig's HQ.  Mr. Trebor leads them over to a table that has 
been carefully covered over, to hide whatever's sitting on it.  When they 
get to it, the armed guard watching the table pulls back the tarp, to reveal 
some devices that neither Kelly nor Jenny had ever seen before, but which 
have a rather wicked appearance to them.

"So, this is what you had us come here for, I take it."

"Exactly, Captain."

Kelly touches one of the devices.  A look of alarm appears on her face, 
which she rapidly suppresses.  Then, "Of course, I could be wrong, but I 
would guess that these are some sort of weapons.  And from the look of them, 
pretty advanced stuff."

"That was our guess, too.  So far, though, we haven't dared to try them out, 
or do much of anything else with them, aside from cleaning them up, and 
calling you."

Kelly looks straight at the Expedition Leader.

"Sir, you did the right thing.  Even if these artifacts aren't what they 
look like, one can never be too careful with potentially dangerous 
artifacts.  So, can you give us any background information on them?"

"Mr. Stiles is the person who actually found them, and dug them up, so he 
probably knows as much about them as anyone on this forsaken rock."

All eyes turn to Mr. Stiles.

"Well, I found them in a vault some fifty meters below the surface, half 
a day from here.  There's a lot more still in there.  I just brought back 
enough to have proof of their existence."

"Could you take us to this vault?"

"Easily, come morning."

"Very well."

With that, the table is covered again.  From there, the four proceed to the 
mess hall for dinner.

************

Later, in the ready room aboard *White Star 64*  Kelly Leick takes Jenny 
Winters' hand in hers.  The look of dread and loathing is loud and clear on 
Kelly's face.

'Jen, I didn't want to say anything in the camp, as they may well have a 
teep of their own with them.  When I touched one of the weapons, I got a 
loud and clear sign.  That stuff's leftover Shadow technology.  Stuff we 
haven't seen before, and worse than anything we have seen before, short of 
a death cloud or the Drakh Plague.'

So, what are we going to do?'

'We're going to get those damnable weapons out of here, and back to a 
*secure* IPX facility back on Earth.  And we're going to maintain absolute 
secrecy about this.  The fewer people who know about this, the better I'll 
feel about it.'

'I fully agree.'

************

Early the next morning, an ATV pulls up next to *White Star 64*.  Kelly and 
Jenny emerge from the ship, and climb aboard.

"Good morning, Mr. Stiles."

"Good morning, ladies.  Ready to go?"

"Of course."

The ATV departs across the planet's rather desolate looking surface.

************

Towards noon, they get to the entrance to the tunnel.  Mr. Stiles shuts down 
the engine.

"Okay, we walk from here, or should I say, climb."

************

Some time later, they reach the vault.  Mr. Stiles opens it.  The two women 
just stare at the contents, filled with awe and dread.

After a moment, "Holy shit!"

"There's enough firepower in here to supply a small army!"

"That's why we couldn't be more forthcoming with accurate information about 
this in our transmissions.  Even using code, someone else might have found 
out..."

"Like Raiders?"

"Or maybe the Drakh.  After all, remember what almost happened to Mr. 
Eilerson's dig on Ceti Four, before the *Excalibur* got there?"

"Yes, I do remember reading about that.  Good point."

Kelly Leick engages her link.

"*White Star 64*, this is the Captain.  I want you to lock onto my 
coordinates, lift off, and proceed to as close to this location as you 
can land on safely."

"Aye, Captain."

"And make sure Mr. Trebor is with you when you come."

"Aye, Captain."

"Very good.  Captain Leick out."  Then, "Mr. Stiles, if we could return to 
the surface for the time being?"

"Of course, Captain."

With that, he closes the vault again, and they return to the surface.

************

Half an hour later, *White Star 648 sets down on the nearest available flat 
spot.  Mr. Trebor emerges, escorted by two Rangers.  It takes surprisingly 
little time for the rather portly individual to negotiate the rough terrain 
separating the ship from the tunnel entrance.

"Mr., Trebor, I assume you brought the appropriate paperwork for us to take 
these weapons off your hands, and transport them back to the IPX labs back 
on Earth?"

"As a matter of fact, it's right here, Captain.", as he hands her a 
form-laden clipboard, with an old style pen.  She signs at each place he 
indicates.

************

Several hours later, the vault is empty, and the ship's cargo hold is full.  
The weapons back at the dig's HQ have also been loaded aboard.  The IPX 
personnel and the Rangers are saying their good-byes out on the landing 
strip.

"Don't worry, Mr. Trebor.  We'll see to it that you and Mr. Stiles get full 
credit for your find  with your superiors, and I'm sure that IPX will pay 
you both quite handsomely."

"Thanks, Captain."

A few minutes later, *White Star 64* is climbing back out into space, for 
the trip to Earth.

************

EPILOGUE -  September 2289

Those were some interesting situations, all right.  I'm just glad that the 
Drakh never got wind of the IPX haul!'

"Really!"

'By the way, have you heard that Captain McCormack has turned down a 
promotion to General?'

"No, but somehow I'm not surprised.  She could no more be happy stuck behind 
a desk in Earthdome than you or Captain Ryan could be.  Speaking of whom, 
how's she handling retirement?"

'Quite well, from what I've heard.  Story has it that she and Commander Muir 
have settled in a new colony on the third planet out from Chi-1 Orionis, and 
are raising horses and cattle.'

"Sounds nice.  Maybe we should consider retirement ourselves, back in 
Teeptown."

'I will definitely take your suggestion under consideration. In the 
meantime, though, we're due in Boston, to attend Ms. Mary Hampton 
Garibaldi's graduation from Harvard.'

"Do you think Mr. Garibaldi will be there?"

'For his only kid's big day?  Of course he'll be there.  And don't worry.  
Since Mr. Bester's most timely demise, his attitude toward teeps has 
mellowed quite a bit.  Proving that his problem never was with all teeps.  
Just one bad apple.'

"Good."

'In fact, I've heard that he had a thing for your granddaughter Talia, some 
thirty years ago.  She wasn't interested, however.'

Both women laugh over that.

The End